Politician Resorts to Ksh500-a-Day Mjengo Work After Election Loss

Two years ago, Agnes Nkanya was a Government employee in the Ministry of Agriculture under permanent and pensionable employment.

Prior to the 2022 General Election, she resigned from her Ksh 40,000 salaried job to contest for the Magumoni ward in Igambang’ombe Constituency in Tharaka Nithi County (TNC)

Nkanya, a mother of one daughter, joined the political arena with the hopes of representing one of the most populated wards in Tharaka Nithi with a total of 22,846 registered voters, six locations and 14 sub-locations.

At the end, she emerge third in the contest of six candidates where she was the only female in the race.

A photo collage of Agnes Nkanya washing a car (left) and her working on a construction site (right)

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Agnes Nkanya

After spending all her resources and losing the election, Nkanya resorted to casual jobs, working at building sites during the day and in the evening, cleaning cars at a nearby carwash until late for a chance to earn a living.

On a lucky day, the former political aspirant earns Ksh500 at a construction site and carwash. It is this situation that prompted Nkanya to reach out to the government for help.

In a statement, the politician lamented that her current situation was taking a toll on her.

“I cannot pretend I am not suffering. I plead with the President, Prof Kindiki and Governor Njuki to help me please.

“I never knew one day life will reduce me to such a state in finding a coin to have a meal even just for a day. I have cut all my weight, my clothes do not fit me anymore. I am not ok at all. God who sees in secret remember me, please,” she decried.

In an area where she is well known by the locals, Nkanya admitted struggling noting that some of the residents thought she was seeking sympathy by engaging in casual jobs.

“Many people from Magumoni Ward, especially my supporters from Tharaka Nithi County at large, have been asking me what I am currently doing, and if I went back to work,

“I did not have an answer yet but here it is, I am hustling for any available casual job. I am a handy person at a construction site,” she explained.

Nkanya contested on the Devolution Party of Kenya (DPK) party, an affiliate of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition that formed the government after the 2022 General election.

Leaders of various political parties that form the Kenya Kwanza alliance led by Deputy President William Ruto at Ngong Race Course on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

DPPS